Liberians clash with U.N. forces

November 12, 2005

Supporters of George Weah, a former soccer star and presidential candidate, clashed with U.N. peacekeepers Friday as his party gathered evidence of alleged fraud in Liberia's first postwar election. The peacekeepers fired tear gas and swung batons to disperse hundreds of people trying to break through a U.N. barrier near the U.S. Embassy, according to a Jordanian officer who commanded the unit. Two U.N. soldiers suffered injuries, said the officer. He did not elaborate. Witnesses said three Liberians were also injured. Weah had implored about 1,500 supporters at his party headquarters to reject violence, saying his hopes for victory in the runoff against former Finance Minister Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf were not lost. Johnson-Sirleaf had 59 percent of the vote, compared with 41 percent for Weah, with more than 97 percent of the ballots counted. Johnson-Sirleaf, who would become Africa's first democratically elected female president if the results are certified, claimed victory. Weah has refused to concede. On Thursday, Johnson-Sirleaf reached out to Weah, saying she would offer him a post -- perhaps the Ministry of Youth and Sports. International observers have said they saw no widespread irregularities in the race between Johnson-Sirleaf and Weah, but Steve Quoah, a top Weah adviser, said his Congress for Democratic Change party had filed papers with the electoral commission to stop the count. Quoah said the violations included "intimidation, harassment and prohibiting our poll workers from going into the polling stations."